Your neglected friends are calling you...are you listening?

There are 7 days a week and 30 or 31 days a month (except for February), not to mention having a reliable washer (and / or dryer) at home (or you can always go to the laundromat), and considering you are going out everyday, how many pieces of garments do you need without repeating the same outfit on any of the days?

Don't you think we already have too much in our wardrobe to the point of overflowing? Unless you have ruthlessly culled your wardrobe and have become a 'minimalist', with a total of 33 (or whatever number you decide that suits you) pieces hanging there, I dare to say that we have enough clothing to last us for at least another decade (if we take care of them that is). Don't give me the excuse of 'running out of fashion' or 'off trend' if what you have are investment buys and classical pieces which are timeless. And of course not following the washing instructions is totally inexcusable!

Now why do you think a lot of the garments which you have bought are never worn? First off, you don't even remember what you have in your closet. (Check your closet for the pieces with the price tag still on them!) You might love your purchase so much that you believe you need a monumental occasion worthy of wearing it. (And when would that be?) You might be able to get away with wearing the same old to all occasions as fashion is now pretty casual and relaxed so why bother with all the fuss, right?

Trust me. You have beautiful items in your closet and it is up to you to dig them out and fall in love with them once again. How about going through your closet and pull out a few items that you have neglected and make a point of wearing them in the coming week? Hang them somewhere visible near your bed and make the outfit of the day a reality as you take a picture (and post it on Instagram?) as a reminder. I like the idea of using a decorative mannequin where I can create different outfit combinations with accessories. I do believe that getting 'dressed' does miracles in uplifting my mood, which as a result gives me the confidence to get through the humdrum day feeling good about myself. 

So pay a visit to your wardrobe now and see what you have already got! Closet orphans were bought in the first place because you found them irresistible so find a way to wear them now. Listen to your body when a garment no longer fits or you look sick wearing it. Isn't it time to send it off to charity or re-purpose it into a new piece of art? Garments that you wear day in and day out like a 'uniform' might need some time off before they are torn apart for good. Make sure you air out your clothes and shoes in the open before putting them away in their designated spot if you want them to last longer. I certainly want you to have a wardrobe that makes you look beautiful and feel great but you have to put in the work as I outlined above. 

Living in the moment is all we have got so why delay the gratification from wearing the gorgeous pieces of garments that you love in the fitting room? What are you saving them for? There is no point of waiting to feel special as we don't know how long we have in our physical body and no opportunities should be missed just because. Wear the old, the new, the in-between NOW. Make the old new and make the new old NOW. 

To inject a dose of motivation into working your wardrobe, how about being purposeful in your next purchases and buy something different / outside the norm? How about bringing on a scarf or neckerchief to complete an outfit which could otherwise be bland? Try out a different style, texture and/ or colour, something that deviates from your 'usual' and get yourself out of the rut. You deserve it.

Are you wearing a designer label?

Have you ever wondered why 'branded' items can afford to be marked up significantly even though the material and design can be found and easily substituted with something similar at a fraction of the RRP sans the logo? Does it even make sense to pay more while being a walking billboard for the brand / designer, knowing that they are manufactured in China or 3rd world countries? I certainly don't get it. Could it be possible that it makes me a better person if I wear a pair of Jimmy Choo heels, when the logo is invisible under your feet? We have a whole generation of people growing up with brands such as Nike and Adidas and they are die-hard devotees who have created a logo culture in the process. 

Coco Chanel, Christian Dior and YSL are a few of the iconic designers I come to appreciate and adore. I read about them in biographies and watched numerous DVDs (different versions / actors/ actresses) which I thoroughly enjoyed. While I can't afford owning their masterpieces nor do I want to, I can't help but admire their ingenuity and creativity, their boldness and fashion sense. But do I want to wear something with their logo imprinted explicitly on my chest? I don't think so.

So what does it mean when we refer to something bought on 'high street'? Brands to me are the equivalence to 'shops'. You are looking at fast fashion moguls like H&M, Zara, Cotton On, etc...where you can find cheap, tat and identical merchandise with a target of the very young ones in every one of them. And of course, it is a euphemism for all brands which are not designer. Why is there a demarcation between the designers brand and the generic to start with? Where does the smaller, independent brand fit in? Get a celebrity donning your pieces and share it on Instagram and you become 'successful' instantly overnight. 

The turn of the millennium brought about a new wave of brand exploitation, thanks to the collaboration culture, where emerging brands leverage their connections with more established companies to increase their exposure. Why do we covet a branded pair of sunglasses, even though the size, shape and colour are far from flattering on our face? Are we just paying to wear the logo on the arms and not  for the actual shades with anti-UV properties? Why is the logo more important than the actual product , the substance of which has become almost inconsequential?

I am a 'brandless' person as I do believe that anyone can look stunning when you are wearing your colour, your style personality, and knowing how to mix and match to create new outfit combinations even out of rags. Money might buy us convenience and some sort of comfort but wearing branded garments or something expensive don't necessarily transform a person's look from meh to wow. Besides, why would you want to be a walking advertisement for someone you don't even know? I'd pay for quality and craftmanship but definitely not the little label attached to the back of the neckline.

Obsessed with BAGS

A woman can never has too many bags. For me, accessories like handbags are crucial to complete an outfit with style, something I wouldn't mind splurging on. As I am not a 'uniform' person who can bear wearing the same / similar outfit day in and day out, I tend to change my handbags fairly often to go with what I am wearing on a particular day, and yes, I have lots of handbags to choose from, like my shoe-racks fit for a queen. 

The gist of changing up my handbags so frequently is the inner transfer bag (with a handle and loads of compartments) which save a lot of time and headaches. I make sure all my 'essentials' are in there and swapping handbags becomes a piece of cake as I know nothing is forgotten before I walk out the door. Of course, I also take into account what I am doing on the day, the weather which decide how much I need to carry with me. 

So what is in my handbag (or tote)?

In my transfer bag for all the essentials and smaller items:

handcream

deodorant

glasses cleaning cloth

store loyalty cards (in a silicon pouch)

business cards (in card holders)

my personal colour swatch

medications (including paracetamol)

tissues (dry and wet wipes)

face cleanser / cotton pads

And in my handbag du jour:

recycle bag

portable wifi (charged)

portable fan (charged)

wallet

keys (in a key holder)

phone (charged)

pen

mini notepad

a book (fiction or thriller)

No idea why people spend so much on 'mini-bags' which seem to be a trend these days. What do they put inside???

I like to be well prepared so lugging a medium - large size bag is a way of everyday life. However, I make sure I clear the contents out at the end of the day to be organised. 

How about you? Are u carrying too much (or too little) and would you consider swapping to a crossbody / rucksack option if you get shoulder and neck pain from all the weight bearing on you?

Women over 40 are NOT forgotten!!!

I have never been a gossip magazine reader and I don't really care about what's going on in the life of the celebrities but there are a few whose looks I couldn't help but admire. I love the natural charisma exuded by Judi Dench and the subtle glamour of Susan Sarandon and Merryl Streep. These spectacular women are simply head-turners and I wouldn't give credit on their vitality and beauty to botox or any kind of surgery. I am sure they take anti-ageing pre-cautions but in a legit way like staying out of the sun, drinking litres of water, speaking with demeanor, exercising with or without a PT, eating organic, and lots of beauty sleep. I suppose we non-celebs could use some or all of the advice but good genes play an important part too, so does presenting themselves in the best way possible, walking tall with confidence and wearing the right colour, be proud of their unique style, and donning age-appropriate clothings certainly contribute to their stardom presences.

Rather than obsessing about living up to a Hollywood image, I do embrace ageing as a matter of reality. I don't make my age a secret and would appreciate respect from others for my decades of life experiences, being smart and sassy, having a quick mind and knowledgeable enough to engage in different topics of meaningful conversations. I like to see myself ageing with beauty and panache, and Coco Chanel is my icon of what a woman should be like as she gets older by the day. (I highly recommend reading her biography!)

Unfortunately the fashion industry fails us big time by churning out new and latest outfits suitable for 'children' and size 0 female. I remember shopping at Marks & Spencer 15 years ago in Hong Kong just because the local outlets didn't cater to my size i.e. a size 14! Not much of a shopper anymore after becoming a Personal Stylist myself, I can still hear women over 40, generation X and boomers, screaming out their needs which they rightly deserve:

We want sleeves!

We want variations in hemlines. Mini are for kids!

We want bigger sizes.

We want something new and exciting! Why are the younger ones having all the fun?

We want comfortable but stylish shoes.

We want lingerie that covers our bumps!

The demographic has changed dramatically and the marketers would better keep up as we are the majority of consumers with money to spend. Never mind that as there are always places where we can find our treasures, classic or not, at a fraction of the retail price: charity / second hand shops. Pop-ups are everywhere these days stocking pre-loved, investment pieces which don't break the bank. Splurging on one of a kind garments is definitely the trend I can see in the years to come as women my age are stepping up, getting bold, and embracing ageing with STYLE!